British Foreign Secretary affirms Gambia's bid to return to Commonwealth

BANJUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said here on Tuesday that he had confirmed from Gambian president Adama Barrow that the West Africa country expected to return to the Commonwealth.

Former president Yahya Jammeh withdrew his country from the Commonwealth in 2013, accusing the body of being a "neo-colonial institution".

"We have a great conversation with President Barrow who has a fantastic ideas taking this country forward," Boris said at a press conference in Banjul Tuesday.

"I am proud to report that President Barrow is going to take the Gambia back to the Commonwealth. I talked about that last night to the Secretary General of Commonwealth and she's determined to speed that up to get it done as soon as possible," Boris added.

The British Foreign Secretary arrived in Banjul Tuesday, marking the first-leg of his two-day visit in Africa that will take him to Ghana where he's scheduled to meet with new president of Ghana Nana Addo.

While in Gambia, he had a meeting with President Barrow, before he was taken on a tour of the UK-funded Medical Research Council.

"President Barrow has described that this is a new opportunity for the Gambia, this is a New Gambia. That's something we want to support," Boris stressed.